German Zoo Worlds Zoo Animal Report

Macaw

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Photo made by @German Zoo World Scarlet Macaws at Karlsruhe Zoo

Seen at how many Zoos/Aquariums: 13
Seen Breeds/Species: Great green Macaw, Blue throated Macaw, Blue headed Macaw, Blue and gold Macaw, Red shouldred Macaw, Green winged Macaw, Hyacinths Macaw, Lears Macaw, Blue winged Macaw, Scarlet Macaw

Macaws are easily one of the most popular and also common Birds in Zoos. Öhringen Tiergehege once kept their Macaws in a simple cramped Aviary in the Bird Greenhouse but since a few years you can find the Zoos Great green Macaw which is mixed with a Blue and gold Macaw in a simple outdoor Aviary. Landau Zoo keeps the rare Blue throated Macaw in a old fashioned yet stil adequate Aviary which was until 2021 also home to Blue headed Macaw which was phased out for some Reason but the Blue throated Macaw at Landau are stil mixed with Ring tailed Lemur which seems to work well. Aside from the by now phased out Individuals at Landau i have seen the rare Blue headed Macaw at Karlsruhe Zoo. Karlsruhe is specialized in breeding of rare Parrots and so they also have a nice collection of Macaws including a Pair of Blue headed Macaw together with Blue and gold Macaw in a naturalistic Aviary of the Zoos old fashioned Primate House. The Blue and gold Macaw is the most common species,of Macaw which i have encountered in 8 Zoos including Öhringen and Karlsruhe which i have already mentioned above. One of the strangest places i have ever visited has to be Schwaben Park a small private owned Amuesement Park which until recently had some strange Wildlife shows including a Parrot show which includes a Blue and gold Macaw doing tricks and picking up Money from the Visitors. Sadly this Show had no educational Value and so i am glad they are not doing shows anymore and i am not even sure if they stil keep Macaws. Next to Tripsdrill Wildlife you can also find a big Amuesment Park which also includes very few Animals but until a few years ago i remember a small Hatchery building which includes a Bird egg display, a indoor Aviary with unidentified Parakeets and a small outdoor sadly Parrot on a stick display for a pair of BAG Macaw. I dont think the Park stil keeps them and i am not sure if the Hatchery building is stil there. Luisenpark Mannheim even kept their BAG Macaw in a small simple free flight Aviary but the Zoo phased them out as they build a new larger free flight Aviary for mostly african Birds. Wilhelma Zoo is also home to a large Parrot collection which is mostly housed on the Zoos Subtropics terraces and they were also Home to BAG Macaw until a few years ago and they were kept together with Sun Connure, Sunbittern and Chilean Tinamou. Wilhelma phased out their BAG Macaw as they are currently home to a endangered Hyacinths Macaw. Ulm Zoo keeps the BAG Macaw in a spacious naturalistic Aviary which is shared with Domestic guinea Pig and a Scarlet Macaw. Ulm has only started very recently with the keeping of the BAG Macaw maybee since a year by now. Hellabrunn Zoo Munich has previously kept them in a simple Enclosure in the Zoos old Childrens Zoo also together with Domestic guinea Pig but currently they are kept in the best Macaw Aviary i have ever seen as they are kept in the Zoos spacious and naturalistic free flight Aviary where they are mixed with Ducks, Gulls, Storks, Ibises and Cranes from arround the World and it is a amazing sight to actually see flying Macaws in a Zoo Aviary setting. Wilhelma Zoo was also home to the Red shouldred Macaw which was kept on the Subtropics terraces together with Domestic guinea Pig until 2023 when the last Individual Bird was phased out. Hagenbeck Zoo Hamburg has a large and very active breeding flock of Green winged Macaw which is kept in a naturalistic and spacious Aviary and which is shared with Ringed Teal and Black bellied whistling Duck outdoors and indoors on my Visit they were stil mixed with Wild Cavie and they were kept until 2022 but since 2024 the Macaws at Hamburg share their indoor Enclosure with Six banded Armadillo. As the Hyacinths Macaw is the largest species of Macaw and they are endangered i have seen them at 3 Zoos. Nuremburg Zoo keeps their Macaws in a simple glass fronted Aviary which is connected to the Zoos Ape house/Aquarium building where you can also see their indoor Enclosure. Nuremburg is often successfull with breeding the Hyacinths Macaw but most if not all fertile Eggs are send to Karlsruhe Zoo where the Birds are then handreared by the Zoos Director Matthias Rheinschmidt. One of these handreared Macaws a male named Henry is now a Zoo Ambassador which is often seen in Rheinschmidts You Tube Videos. Karlsruhe keeps their Hyacinths Macaws in a simple Aviary which is connected to the Directors office and if you are lucky you can even call Henry over and he comes to the Visitors as he is a very tame Individual. As i have already mentioned above Wilhelma Zoo is since 2024 a new holder of the Hyacinths Macaw but the Zoo did already keep the species until 2017 on the Zoos Subtropic terraces. Currently only a small part of the Zoos Parrot collection is vieweable as the Zoo is working on a Enclosure for Tasmanian Devils but the Macaw can stil be seen but he is for some Reason mixed with Red legged Partridge. Loro Parque focuses on the breeding of rare Parrots from arround the World, sadly i do not remember much of the Zoos Parrot collection but i stil remember the rare Lears Macaw which was kept in the first Aviary as you have entered the Zoo. They are also kept in a spacious and naturalistic Aviary which is named the Macaw Jungle and they share it with Blue throated, Blue headed, Blue and gold, Golden collared, Green winged, Scarlet, Hyacinths and Military Macaws aswell as Yellow shouldred Amazon and Great Currasow. Öhringen is a small free Zoo but stil it is amazing that this Zoo has a third species of Macaw as they also keep Blue winged Macaw together with a Yellow crowned Amazon inside the Zoos Bird Greenhouse. Other than at the already mentioned Aviary at Ulm Zoo i have seen the colourfull Scarlet Macaw at 2 other Zoos including Pfauengarten Zoo which only keeps them since very recently as on my last Visit i did see a pair in the Zoos Bird House. Karlsruhe Zoo even keeps them in two different Enclosures and the first pair is kept in one of the Primate House Aviarys and it is shared with Black headed Caique. The second pair at Karlsruhe are sadly held as Parrots on a stick but this also means you can come close to these amazing Birds which are kept in the Zoos Rainforest House. The Pair shares a simple outdoor and spacious indoor Enclosure with Aldabra giant Tortoise, unidentified Ducks, Egyptian Plover and Black naped Stilt. Karlsruhe was also home to the famous Scarlet Macaw Douglas which was well known because of the Childrens Movie Pippi im Taka Tuka Land until he sadly passed away in 2019. Most Zoos that keep Macaws are either home to rescued Pets or they keep and participate in breeding programs for endangered Macaws and some Zoos are so successfull that they release zoo born Chicks back in to the Wild which shows how important modern Zoos are.
 
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Jaguar

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Photo made by @KevinB

Seen at how many Zoos/Aquariums: 2


Jaguars are very popular both by Zoo Visitors and Zoos but i think they are fore some reason less common in Zoos than for instance Lions and Tigers. I have seen the Jaguar at 2 Zoos and one of them is of course Wilhelma Zoo. Wilhelma keeps them in the Zoos Carnivore House where they are kept in two Enclosures which have been refurbished in the last Years and now the current Enclosures are much more natural looking. Until 2013 the Zoo was home to Petra a famous black Jaguar which sadly passed away with the age of 23. Since 2019 Wilhelma again keeps a Jaguar with the arrival of Taima and in 2021 male Milagro arrived but he was send to another Zoo in 2023 and was replaced by the black Male Teo which also arrived in 2023. Loro Parque is the second Zoo where i have seen this Big Cat. They are also home to a spotted and black Pair which is kept in a naturalistic and spacious Enclosure. Jaguars are not only popular Zoo Animals they are also well known even by standard Zoo Visitors but for some reasons they are much more rarely kept in Zoos than other Big Cat species.
 
Sebas short tailed Bat

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Photo made by @lintworm

Seen at how many Zoos/Aquariums: 2

Bats are rarely kept in Zoos as they are sadly quite hard to keep and so i am very glad to have seen the Sebas short tailed Bat at 2 Zoos. Frankfurt Zoo keeps a huge colony in the Zoos famous Grzimek House and it is breathtaking to see swarming Bats flying all arround their Enclosure. Even more spectacular is the free flight Bat Cave at Karlsruhe Zoos Rainforest House where you can get up close to a colony of Bats which is a fascinating Zoo experience. Bats are not dangerous to Humans and so i think it would be important to keep them in more Zoos as they are sadly either overlooked or demonized by most Zoo Visitors even when they are completly harmless and they are fascinating to look at.
 
Callitrichidae

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Photo made by @German Zoo World Common Marmosett at Bodenseezoo Reuthemühle

Seen at how many Zoos/Aquariums: 13
Seen Breeds/Species: Western Pygmy Marmosett, Golden lion Tamarin, Golden headed lion Tamarin, Cotton top Tamarin, Emperor Tamarin, Moustached Tamarin, Goeldis Monkey, Eastern Pygmy Marmosett, Common Marmosett

Small and active Mammals are always crowd pleasers in Zoos and this makes Callitrichids common in Zoos. As the Worlds smallest Primate i have seen the Western Pygmy Marmosett at 3 Zoos. Wilhelma Zoo always had a large collection of callitrichidae and the Zoos smaller Monkeys have been moved arround the Zoo alot in recent Years. First the Pygmy Marmosetts where kept in the young Animal rearing centre and then in the South America House. For a short time they where even kept in the Zoos Ape House kindergarden enclosure together with Goeldis Monkey and Two toed Sloth and today this Enclosure is home to Bolivian squirrel Monkey. Currently Wilhelmas Pygmy Marmosetts are kept freeroaming in the Zoos Amazon Rainforest House which is the most spacious and naturalistic Enclosure i have seen for the Species. Karlsruhe Zoo keeps them in a naturalistic Enclosure in the Zoos Rainforest House together with Grey breasted Conure, Crimson bellied Conure and southern three banded Armadillo. Augsburg Zoo keeps them in a simple Enclosure in the Zoos Tiger House where they are mixed with Grey winged Trumpeter, Goeldis Monkey and Azaras Agouti. The Golden lion Tamarin is a true Zoo success story as Zoos have managed to release zooborn Individuals back in to the Wild. Zurich Zoo keeps them in a simple yet also naturalistic indoor and outdoor Enclosure in the Zoos Exotarium building. At Frankfurt Zoo they keep the GLT in the famous Grzimek House in a spacious and naturalistic Enclosure which can be viewed from below, from above and they even have a simple outdoor Aviary. Frankfurt mixes them with White faced Saki, Two toed Sloth and southern three banded Armadillo and on my Visit i saw a Saki grooming a GLT which is a behauvior i have never seen before and this was interesting to see. There is even a second Enclosure for GLT at the Grzimek House and they are mixed with Cotton top Tamarin and Southern Tamandua. Golden headed lion Tamarins are kept even by smaller Zoos like Göppingen Zoo where they are kept in the Enclosure already mentioned in the Iguana entry. Karlsruhe Zoo keeps their GHLT in the Zoos Primate House where they are kept in 2 Enclosures. First they are kept in rotation with other Callitrichidae species on the Zoos former Island for Black handed spider Monkey which is much better suited for smaller Primate species. Karlsruhe also keeps them in a naturalistic Aviary which is connected to the Zoos Primate House and it is a mixed Enclosure with White faced Saki and Greater guinea Pig. At Wilhelma Zoo the GHLT are kept in the Zoos Amazon Rainforest House and they even have a rotational outdoor Aviary where they are rotated with Black and gold howler Monkey. Wilhelma mixes their GHLT with Yellow footed Tortoise, White faced Saki and Two toed Sloth. Cotton top Tamarins are amongst the most common smaller Primates in Zoos. Luisenpark Mannheim kept them in simple meshed Aviarys in the Zoos Conservatory building which has always included some Animal Enclosures but the Cotton tops were fore some reason phased out as the Zoo is currently home to GHLT which are kept in the new South america House. At both Göppingen and Frankfurt they are held in the Enclosures already mentioned above or in the Iguana entry. Wilhelma Zoo was also home to the unique looking Emperor Tamarin which was kept at the Zoo until 2019. Heidelberg Zoo was also home to the Species until they were phased out in 2024, they were first kept in the Zoos Great Ape House in a naturalistic indoor Enclosure that was connected to a spacious outdoor Aviary and later they were kept in the Zoos old fashioned Primate House together with southern three banded Armadillo. They are stil kept by Opelzoo Kronberg where they live in the previous Brown noased Coati enclosure which is shared with Greater guinea Pig. I am very glad that i have managed to see the rare Moustached Tamarin at Praha Zoo as they were kept in the Zoos Gorilla House until 2023 but i was able to see them during my Visit in 2018. Goeldis Monkeys are also often kept in Zoos and i have seen them at 4 Zoos including in the already above mentioned Enclosure at Augsburg Zoo. At Wilhelma Zoo i stil remember them being kept in the young Animal rearing centre with their overhead Tunnel which has led them to their simple outdoor enclosure and i also remember their other Enclosures in the South American and Ape House. Currently they are kept in a rotational Enclosure in the Zoos Amazon Rainforest House where they are rotated with Black and gold howler Monkey. Karlsruhe Zoo keeps them both on the rotational Monkey Island and in the Zoos Rainforest House where they are mixed with Golden Conure, Two toed Sloth and Azaras Agouti. At Frankfurt Zoo they are kept in a simple Enclosure in the Grzimek House which is shared with Greater guinea Pig. I have seen the Eastern Pygmy Marmosett at Leipzig Zoo and on my Visit they where kept in the Zoos Bird House and i remember them very active during my Visit, currently they are sadly down to a Individual which is kept in Gondwanaland, the Zoos huge Tropical Hall. One of the most common Primates in Zoos is the Common Marmosett which i have seen at 4 Zoos including Herpetarium Landau and Göppingen which where already mentioned above or in several other Entrys. Bodenseezoo Reuthemühle had some active Individuals which are kept in a simple Aviary. At Ulm Zoo they keep three Males in the Zoos Tropical House Primate section but Ratz and Rübe are kept sepperatley from Chico as they sadly did not work in a shared Enclosure and so Chico lives in a own Enclosure with a Red footed Tortoise as compagnionship. Callitrichids are not only active and social many Species are also endangered and they can be mixed with a lot of other smaller South american Animals which makes them common even for smaller Zoos.
 
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Red bellied Piranha

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Photo made by @German Zoo World Red bellied Piranha at Göppingen Zoo

Seen at how many Zoos/Aquariums: 8

Piranahs are one of the most popular Fish species which are kept in Zoos and Aquariums and i have seen them at 8 collections. Herpetarium Landau keeps them in a way to small Tank right after the Zoos Entrance. Sea Life Konstanz has a large school in a simple tunnel Tank in the Aquariums Amazon Rainforest section and it was spectacular to be surrounded by so many Piranahs. According to Zootierliste Zurich Zoo no longer keeps Piranahs but on my Visit in 2022 i saw them in a spacious and naturalistic Aquarium in the Zoos Exotarium building Aquarium section and they were mixed with several other species of south american freshwater fishes. At Ulm Zoo they are held in a lush and spacious Tank in the Zoos tropical Freshwater section and they are mixed with various other south american freshwater Fishes including large schools of Green Swordtail and Guppy breedingforms aswell as some very impressive Leopard Pleco. It is very special that even a small Zoo like Göppingen Zoo has a Aquarium/Terrarium building that includes a simple Aquarium for Piranah aswell as the Colombian Tetra. Karlsruhe Zoo is home to a large School which is kept in the Zoos Rainforest House and they are mixed with Black neon Tetra and Neon Tetra. Of course they are also kept at Wilhelma Zoos Aquarium/Terrarium building tropical freshwater zone and they are mixed with several species of collourfull Tetras but also the rare Acanthicus hystrix Catfish. Opel Zoo Kronberg has them in the Zoos Aqua/Terrarium building where they are kept in a naturalistic Aquarium together with Bronze Corydoras, Sterbas Corydoras, Golden whiptail Catfish and Colombian Tetra. I think Zoos and Aquariums are very important to show the standard Zoo Visitors that Piranahs are not dangerous to Humans and when they see the Piranah being kept together with other freshwater Fishes they see that Piranahs are not Monsters and that they are important for their Ecosystem.
 
Central and south american Anura

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Photo made by @German Zoo World Golden poison Frog at Wilhelma Zoo

Seen at how many Zoos/Aquariums: 8
Seen Breeds/Species: Carvalhos surinam Toad, Amazon milk Frog, Giant waxy tree Frog, Red eyed tree Frog, Mountain Chicken, Blue poison dart Frog, Strawberry poison dart Frog, Dyeing poison dart Frog, Yellow banded poison dart Frog, Golfodulcean poison dart Frog, Grewn and black poison dart Frog, Golden poison Frog

Central and south America is home to a wide variety of collourfull Frogs of which some of them are often kept by Zoos. I have seen the unique looking Carvalhos surinam Toad at Karlsruhe Zoo where they are kept in a naturalistic Palaudarium in the Zoos Carnivore House together with other rare Species such as Butterfly Splitfin, Dendropsophus ebracatus, Agalychnis lemut and Dominican Anole. The Amazon milk Frog is more common in Zoos as i have seen them at 3 Zoos. At both Reptile Zoo Oberammergau and Zurich Zoo they are kept in lush planted Terrariums and at Zurich they are kept in the Zoos Exotarium building Terrarium section. At Ulm Zoo they are kept in a spacious Terrarium in the Zoos Terrarium section and you have to look closely to actually find an Frog in here. Ulm mixes them with Whites tree Frog and Amboina box Turtle. Wilhelma Zoo was home to the fascinating Giant waxy tree Frog which was kept in a spacious Terrarium in the Zoos Amazon Rainforest House until it sadly passed away in 2023. I have seen the famous Red eyed tree Frog at Frankfurt Zoo where they are kept in the Zoos Exotarium building Reptile section in a naturalistic Terrarium together with Yucatan shovel headed tree Frog and Emerald tree Boa and this Mix seems to work well as the Frogs are too small to be eaten by the Boa. The most spectacular Frog species i have seen is the huge Mountain Chicken at Zurich Zoos Exotarium building Terrarium section where they are mixed with Lesser antillean Iguana. Wilhelma Zoo is Home to several species of Poison dart Frog including the Blue poison dart Frog which is kept in one of the small but lush Poison dart Frog Terrariums in the Zoos Amazon Rainforest House. At Frankfurt Zoo a small but lush Terrarium is home to the tiny but collourfull Strawberry poison dart Frog which is kept in the Zoos Exotarium building Reptile section. Of course Wilhelma Zoo is also home to the Dyeing poison dart Frog which is one of the most common Amphibians in Zoos and they are held in the Zoos Amazon Rainforest House in a lush Terrarium which is shared with Green and black poison dart Frog. Another common species of Poison dart Frog in Zoos is the yellow banded poison dart Frog which is according to Zootierliste not anymore kept in Zurich Zoos Exotarium building Terrarium section. At Wilhelma Zoo they were for some Reason not kept in the Amazon Rainforest House but instead in the Zoos Aquarium/Terrarium building tropic zone but sadly i do not know if they are stil kept at Wilhelma as they are mentioned as not seen and not signed on Zootierliste. Herpetarium Landau also has a lush and adequate Terrarium for Poison dart Frogs including the collourfull Golfodulcean poison dart Frog which is mixed with both Blue and Dyeing poison dart Frog aswell as Green Anole. The Green and black poison dart Frog is yet another species of PDF which is common in Zoos including at Wilhelma Zoo where they are kept in the Terrarium already mentioned above. They are also kept at Frankfurt Zoos Exotarium building Reptile section in a spacious rainforest Terrarium together with Smiths tropical night Lizard, aswell as both serrated and eastern casque headed Iguana. As the most poisonous species the Golden poison Frog is also often kept in Zoos but most Zoo Visitors do not know they are only poisonous in the Wild as they are fed with other Insects in Zoos. At Wilhelma Zoo they are of course kept in the Zoos Amazon Rainforest House. Opelzoo Kronberg has them in a quite new Terrarium in the Zoos Aqua/Terrarium building which was opened shortly before my Visit in 2024 and they are mixed with Anthonys poison dart Frog. At Heidelberg Zoo they are kept in the former Golden spiny Mouse Terrarium which was then refurbished in to a rainforest Terrarium. Heidelberg actually keeps them in the Zoos Entrance building which means you can see them for free and they are mixed with several other Poison dart Frogs including breeding Maranon poison Frogs aswell as Grahams Anole. Amphibians are sadly endangered and many Zoos that keep central and south american Frogs breed them to hopefully release them back in to the Wild, many Species are collourfull and as they can be mixed with other smaller south and central american Herps they are popular in Zoos and espacially the Poison dart Frogs are also common even with standard Zoo Visitors.
 
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Rhea

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Photo made by @German Zoo World Darwins Rhea at Hellabrunn Zoo Munich

Seen at how many Zoos/Aquariums: 9
Seen Breeds/Species: Greater Rhea, Darwins Rhea

Ratites are amongst the most popular and also common Zoo Birds and i have seen the Greater Rhea at 8 Zoos. The small austrian Zoo Tier und Spielpark Bichlbach keeps them in a very simple Enclosure with a small Barn. The Rhea can be kept outside during most of the Year which also makes them popular for Zoos. At Bodenseezoo Reuthemühle they are kept on a simple yet spacious meadow Enclosure. Opelzoo Kronberg has them in a simple hillside Enclosure in the Zoos South America section near the Coatis and Tamarins that where allready mentioned in other Entrys and previously the Rhea at Kronberg have been mixed with Alpaca. Augsburg Zoo stil mixes them with Alpaca on a spacious ungulate meadow type Enclosure and Karlsruhe Zoo also has quite a similar Enclosure in the Zoos Childrens Zoo section where the Rheas are mixed too with Alpaca. Ulm Zoo has their Rhea in the Enclosure which was already mentioned in the LIama entry and of course they are mixed with the LIama. Ulm has a sign on their South America Enclosure that you should be carefull as Rhea can be very aggressive and pecky. I stil remember a winter visit a few Years ago when a little Girl sticked her hands through the Fence of the Greater Rhea/LIama enclosure and a Rhea came up and stole one of her Gloves and he picked it up and walked arround the Enclosure, i hope that the Bird did not get harmed and hopefully the Rhea did not eat the Glove. Wilhelma Zoo keeps the Rhea already since a long time on the Zoos large mixed South American Enclosure which was previously also shared with Collared Peccary but currently they are mixed with Giant Anteater, Patagonian Cavie, Brazilian Tapir and Alpaca but recently after my last Visit in 2025 Vicunas where added again too with the plans to replace the domestic Alpaca. At Frankfurt Zoo they are also kept on a spacious South America mixed Enclosure together with Patagonian Cavie, Capybara and Vicuna. The second Rhea species is much more rarely kept in Zoos as i have only seen the Darwins Rhea at Hellabrunn Zoo Munich. At Munich they are kept on a huge naturalistic South America Enclosure together with Patagonian Cavie, Capybara and Vicuna and until recently a Giant Anteater that was for some Reason moved over to the Zoos Rhino House. Rhea can be mixed with many other South american Animals which makes them popular even for smaller Zoos but i think it would also be cool if the more rarely kept Darwins Rhea gets more Holders.
 
Anaconda

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Photo made by @German Zoo World Green Anacondas formerly at Hellabrunn,Zoo Munich

Seen at how many Zoos/Aquariums: 6
Seen Breeds/Species: Green Anaconda, Yellow Anaconda

Anacondas are among the worlds largest Snakes and so both Species are often kept in Zoos. I have seen the Green and the Yellow Anacondo each at 3 Zoos. Wilhelma Zoo keeps the Green Anaconda in the Zoos Amazon Rainforest House in a spacious naturalistic Palaudarium that was formerly home to Green Iguana until they where released as freeroamers in to the Amazon House. Hellabrunn Zoo Munich was home to some huge Individuals that were kept until 2024 in the Zoos Ape/Rainforest House. Munich had a deep pool for them and they were mixed with several species of south american freshwater Fishes including Silver Arowana and Oceĺlated Stingray. Praha Zoo is also home to a large Individual which is kept in a naturalistic Palaudarium in the Zoos Feline/Reptile building and this Palaudarium is shared with Metynnis altidorsalis, a huge Silver Arowana and a unidentifed Freshwater Stingray. As the yellow Anaconda is a bit smaller than the huge Green Anaconda they are even found in smaller Zoos including Neu Ulm Reptile Zoo which keeps a Individual in a quite simple Terrarium together with a smaller unidentified Constrictor species. Zurich Zoo has two large Individuals that are kept in the Zoos Exotarium building Terrarium section and it was very impressive on my Visit in 2022 to see some large and active Anacondas swimming and moving arround in their naturalistic Palaudarium. Ulm Zoo was also home to Yellow Anaconda until only a few Years ago and they were kept in the Zoos Terrarium section together with some large Burmese Python. Anacondas can grew very large and their impressive Size makes them popular even among standard Zoo Visitors and so they are often kept in Zoos.
 
Ramphastidae

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Photo made by @German Zoo World Toco Toucan at Wilhelma Zoo

Seen at how many Zoos/Aquariums: 3
Seen Breeds/Species: Green Aracari, Toco Toucan

Toucans and Aracaris are some of the most rpopular Zoo Birds mostly because of their collourfull plumage and their large Bills. At Pfauengarten Zoos Bird House you never know what awaits you on your next Visit and so i was surprised on my last Visit in 2025 to see the already mentioned Scarlet Macaws and even a Green Aracari at this private Zoo. Pfauengarten is only home to a single Bird which is kept in a simple Aviary but i think it would be great for all Birds in the Bird House to also have outdoor Aviarys as they are only housed indoors. Wilhelma Zoo keeps and even breeds the Aracari successfull on the Zoos Subtropic terraces sknce 2018. As the Zoo is currently building a new Enclosure for Tasmanian Devils only half of the Bird collection of the Subtropic terraces can be seen including the Green Aracari and they are mixed with Cape thick Knee and Arabian Partridge. According to Zootierliste they are also kept freeranging in the Zoos Amazon Rainforest House which is a spectacular home for the Aracari. I have seen the impressive Toco Toucan at 2 Zoos. Karlsruhe Zoo has them in a spacious Aviary inside the Zoos Rainforest House and they are mixed with southern three banded Armadillo. Wilhelma Zoo only keeps them since 2024 but the Zoo is so good at breeding them that they are currently held in several Aviarys through out the Zoo. Of course they are kept on the Zoos Subtropic terraces and previously they have been kept together with Red billed Curassow but currently they are kept in their own Aviary maybee because of the nearby construction work. They are also kept in two sepperate Aviarys near the Zoos large freeflight Aviary, the first one is spacious, lush and naturalistic and here they are stil mixed with Red billed Curassow while the second Aviary near the Entrance to the freeflight Aviary is shared with Edwards Pheasant. Toucans and Aracaris are very active Birds and it is entertaining to watch them hopping and flying arround their Aviary and so i think this and their huge Bills which are actaully hollow inside make them popular both by Zoos and Zoo Visitors.
 
Ocelot

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Photo made by @Jakub Ocelot at Leipzig Zoo

Seen at how many Zoos/Aquariums: 1

I have sadly only seen this majestic Feline at Leipzig Zoos Gondwanaland South america section. They are kept there since the Zoo opened Gondwanaland in 2010 and they are even bred regularly which is a rare sight for rarely kept small Cats. Leipzig has them in a hilly, lush and tropical Enclosure which also gives the Cats some privacy and for the Visitors if you are lucky could even see them during the Boat ride. Ocelots are fsscinating and with their beautifull spots they are also popular with the general Zoo Visitors but sadly they are quite rare in Zoos and so i think it would be great if the Zoos that have Ocelots could have better breeding success.
 
Maned Wolf

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Photo by @German Zoo World Maned Wolf at Wilhelma Zoo

Seen at how many Zoos/Aquariums: 2

You can smell the Maned Wolf long before you actually see them and i remember that on one of my Visits to Wilhelma Zoo the Wolfes where hiding as a small Boy approached the Enclosure and he said "where are the Wolfes are there even some in there" and all the time you could clearly smell the presence of the Canids. Tierpark Berlin keeps theim in a rather simple fenced in meadow Enclosure but what is the real interesting part of the Tierparks Maned Wolf enclosure is that they are kept next to Bush Dog which gives Zoo Visitors the rare opportunity to watch two south american Canids next to each other. Wilhelma Zoo keeps their Maned Wolfes in a spacious and naturalistic Enclosure on the opposite side of the Zoos large mixed South american Enclosure and during most of my Visits you can see the Canids active and exploring their Enclosure and you can see them well even when the Enclosure is also very lush. Maned Wolfes are fascinating to look at and espacially active Individuals can be very entertaining to watch and so they belong to one of the most common Canids kept in Zoos but i have also visited other Zoos that should have them but i did never see them even on other Visits but i stil think they are a popular Species both by Zoos and Zoo Visitors.
 
Giant Anteater


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Photo made by @German Zoo World Giant Anteater at Hellabrunn Zoo Munich

Seen at how many Zoos/Aquariums: 3

Anteaters are easily one of the most bizarre looking Zoo Animals and i have seen the Giant Anteater at 3 Zoos. At Frankfurt Zoos Ukumari country they are actually kept in the first Enclosure right after the Zoos Entrance. Frankfurt keeps their Anteaters in a both lush and naturalistic Enclosure. Hellabrunn Zoo Munich has kept them until recently on the large mixed South american Enclosure which was shared with Darwins Rhea, Patagonian Cavie, Capybara and Vicuna but recently they moved the Anteater over to the Zoos Rhino house which is set to become a South america House in the near Future. Wilhelma Zoo stil keeps them on the big mixed South american Enclosure which was already mentioned in the Entrys for both Peccary and Rhea. It is fascinating to see the Anteaters at Wilhelma interacting with the other Species such as on my 2024 Visit where i was able to see a Giant Anteater and a Brazilian Tapir eating peacefully side by side from the same food dish which was a unvorgettable Zoo experience which i will never forget. Anteaters are not only bizarre looking, they can also be mixed with a large variety of other South american Animals and espacially if they are active they are also very entertaining to watch.
 
Hummingbird

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Photo made by @KevinB

Seen at how many Zoos/Aquariums: 2
Seen Breeds/Species: Ruby topaz Hummingbird, Amazilia Hummingbird

I am very glad that i was able to see two different Species of Hummingbird in Zoos as both Zoos i have seen Hummingbirds at do sadly not keep them anymore. Augsburg Zoo had a single Ruby topaz Hummingbird which was kept in the Zoos Bird/Tropical House South america Enclosure together with Blue black Grassquit, Silver beaked Tanager, Sun Conure and Southern Lapwing but both of the Tanagers are also not held anymore at the Zoo and sadly the Hummingbkrd passed away in 2023. Wilhelma Zoo was home to a single yet also collourfull Amazilia Hummingbird which sadly already passed away in 2022. Wilhelma kept the Hummingbird in a sadly quite cramped and simple Aviary in the Zoos small Mammal and Bird House and currently this Aviary is home to Violaceous Euphonia and Red legged Honeycreeper. Hummingbirds are sadly quite hard to keep in Zoos which is why they are so rarely kept in Zoos but they would be popular with Zoo Visitors as they are known even by at least some of the most standard of Zoo Visitors.
 
King Penguin

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Photo made by @German Zoo World King Penguins at Zurich Zoo

Seen at how many Zoos/Aquariums: 4

I have seen the worlds second largest species of Penguin at 4 Zoos. At Zurich Zoo they are kept in the Zoos Exotarium building Aquarium section where they keep a breeding colony in a quite spacial rotational Penguin Enclosure. During most of the Year they are kept in the air conditioned indoor Enclosure which also comes with underwater viewing which is always fascinating but in Winter when it is cold enough to be outside for the Birds they can even use a small but naturalistic outdoor Enclosure and the Zoo rotates them with Humboldt Penguin which are kept indoors when the Kings are kept outside. Hellabrunn Zoo Munich has them in quite a simple indoor Enclosure which is viewed from outside. Munich has them in the Zoos Polar World section together with Northern rockhopper Penguin and until 2021 also Subantarctic gentoo Penguin but the Gentoos were sadly phased out by the Zoo. A special Penguin enclosure is found at Hagenbeck Zoo Hamburgs Polar sea complex where they are kept in a semi walkthrough Enclosure which allows you to feel the Tempratures needed for keeping subantarctic Penguins. Hamburg mixes their Kings with Subantarctic gentoo Penguin. The most spectacular Penguin enclosure i have ever seen is Loro Parques Planet Penguin which is a enormous Enclosure that is of course climate controlled with a central Hill, snow falling from the ceiling and spectacular underwater viewing. Loro Parques large colony of King Penguin is mixed with Southern rockhopper Penguin, Subantarctic gentoo Penguin and even the rarely kept Chinstrap Penguin. King Penguins are both fascinating and active espacially if you can see them diving underwater which is a spectacular sight but they need climate controlled indoor Enclosures which sadly makes them stil quite rare even in larger Zoos.
 
Kangaroo

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Photo made by @German Zoo World Bennetts Wallaby at Pfauengarten Zoo

Seen at how many Zoos/Aquariums: 17
Seen Breeds/Species: Rufous Bettong, Agile Wallaby, Papuan agile Wallaby, Eastern grey Kangaroo, Parma Wallaby, Quokka, Red Kangaroo, Bennetts Wallaby, Swamp Wallaby, Tammar Wallaby, Tasmanian eastern grey Kangaroo, Goodfellows tree Kangaroo

If Zoo Visitors think of an Australian zoo Animal most of them think of a Kangaroo. Wilhelma Zoo opened the Terra Australis in 2023 which was originally the former Ape House that was refurbished to house smaller australian Animals including the rarely kept Rufous Bettong. Wilhelma keeps theim in two Enclosures,in the Zoos nocturnal section of the Terra Australis first they are housed together with Tasmanian brushtail Possum and Western Woylie and in the second Enclosure near the Exit they are mixed with Brushtail Possum and Sugar Glider. Hellabrunn Zoo Munich does also have a small Australia section and a small herd of the rare Agile Wallaby including a Individual of the papuan subspecies can be found in a spacious naturalistic Enclosure and you can even see them in their indoor Enclosures. I have seen the much larger Eastern grey Kangaroo at Nuremburg Zoo where they are kept on the simple yet spacious Australia meadow together with Emu. Parma Wallabys are a smaller species which is often used for Kangaroo walkthroughs i have seen them at 3 Zoos. Wilhelma Zoo sadly is not keeping them anymore as they phased out the last Individual in 2015 but i stil remember them very well as they were kept in the Zoos Australian free flight Aviary which mixed them with several species of Australian Birds. According to Zootierliste Karlsruhe Zoo sadly does also not keep them anymore and they were housed in the Zoos small Australia section Kangaroo walkthrough together with of course Bennetts Wallaby. Frankfurt Zoo is stil home to Parma Wallaby and they are kept in a lush Enclosure which is shared with the very impressive Southern Cassowary. Wilhelma Zoo is the only Zoo in Europe which keeps a group of the rare Quokka that are very popular even with standard Zoo Visitors and they are kept in a naturalistic outdoor Enclosure of the Terra Australis. The most well known species is of course the Red Kangaroo which was also kept by Wilhelma Zoo in a simple Enclosure near the Zoos free flight Aviary and they were mixed with Cape barren Goose until the last Kangaroos were phased out in 2022. At Opelzoo Kronberg they keep a small herd in a simple yet spacious Enclosure and at Hellabrunn Zoo Munich they are also kept in a naturalistic Enclosure of the Zoos Australia section which allowed at least on my last Visit in 2024 to compare 3 different Kangaroo species side by side which is a fascinating Zoo experience. Praha Zoo keeps them in a simple Enclosure in the Zoos old Australia section together with Parma Wallaby. At Hagenbeck Zoo they are kept in a spacious outdoor Enclosure which is shared with Maned Duck and the rare Magpie Goose. Hamburg also allows the Zoo Visitors the rare peek in to the Kangaroos sleeping quarters. The most common species of Kangaroo in Zoos is of course the Bennetts Wallaby which i have seen at 8 Zoos including Pfauengarten Zoo and Ulm Zoo which both keep them in simple yet spacious fenced in meadow Enclosures but at Ulm they where previously mixed with Emu. Landau Zoo has a small and simple Kangaroo walkthrough but of course they also have areas to retreat into. Öhringen Tiergehege kept their last Individual until 2023/2024 but sadly the Zoo had no success with the Species and the last one passed away but i stil remember them in the walk through Enclosure which was shared with Cameroon Sheep and Alpaca. Yet another quite simple Enclosure even with some white Individuals is home to the Bennetts Wallaby at Göppingen Zoo which also mixes them with Emu and previously they where also mixed with Patagonian Cavie. A larger more themed Kangaroo walkthrough even complete with red sand is found at Zurich Zoos Australia section and of course they are also mixed with Emu. Karlsruhe Zoo is also home to this Species which is kept in the Zoos small Australia section in 2 Enclosures. They are first home to a white Individual named Frank which is also shared with Emu and he is sponsored by the famous german tv host Frank Elstner. In the second Enclosure which is the walkthrough which was already mentioned above they where mixed with Parma Wallaby which were either sadly phased out or they passed away in 2025. At Augsburg Zoo i am not sure if they are stil kept by the Zoo as they are kept in a simple yet spacious Enclosure which is located near the construction side of the new Himalaya complex. Augsburg mixes them with both Cape barren Goose and Emu. Until early 2025 Hellabrunn Zoo Munich stil had the quite rare Swamp Wallaby that i was very glad to stil have seen in 2024 and they were of course kept in the Zoos Australia section in a naturalistic Enclosure together with Emu. Leipzig Zoo once had a group of the rare Tammar Wallaby that was kept in a simple Enclosure and they were kept until 2015. After Wilhelma Zoo phased out their last Red Kangaroo in 2022 they got Tasmanian eastern grey Kangaroo in 2023 which are currently kept in a temporarly Enclosure near the upper Zoo Restaurant until they can be moved to the new Tasmania Enclosure which is currently stil under construction. I have seen the unique looking Goodfellows tree Kangaroo at Frankfurt Zoo where they are kept in a old fashioned yet stil adequate lush and natural Aviary type Enclosure and there is also a view a view in to their indoor Enclosure. Frankfurt has regularly bred the Tree Kangaroo which is very special. Kangaroos are very popular Zoo Animals and espacially if they are kept in a walkthrough Enclosure or when they have a Baby in the pouch they are crowd favorites by both small and large Zoos and their Visitors.
 
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German Zoo World said:
while the second Aviary near the Entrance to the freeflight Aviary is shared with Edwards Pheasant.
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The old oropendola aviary or the laughingthrush aviary?
Where are the former inhabitants housed now?
German Zoo World said:
According to Zootierliste they are also kept freeranging in the Zoos Amazon Rainforest House which is a spectacular home for the Aracari.
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There‘re Chestnut-eared Aracaris freeranging too, maybe they were mixed up with the Green Aracaris.
 
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